THE CARROT AND PARSNIP FAMILY, 157 



The carrot was " ennobled " in the same way, and 

 was changed from an " annual " into a " biennial " by 

 sowing the seed late in the season. This prevented 

 it from flowering the same year. The leaves had 

 therefore a season and a half to do work in, and so 

 made more food (starch, sugar, etc.) than was wanted. 

 The root had to enlarge in order to store it up. Then, 

 by selecting seed, year after year, from the plants which 

 flowered latest in the season, the permanent race was 

 established, which, though sown in the spring, refuses 

 to flower in the autumn of the same year, but makes 

 large, fleshy roots instead. 



Another interesting fact was discovered, and it ap- 

 plies to rape or turnip and radishes as well. If the seed 

 be sown in a loose, sandy, or light soil, long, tapering 

 roots are formed ; but if in a stiff, cloggy soil, then there 

 will be more of the stunted, globular roots produced. 



Finally, by selecting seed from those of any 

 particular shape, various races of long, round, truncated 

 " horn " carrots have been established, and now " come 

 true " by seed as garden races. 



It should be borne in mind that though many 

 members of the " umbellifers " are harmless, such as 

 these kitchen vegetables, and others like dill and 

 aniseed, several are very poisonous. Indeed, wild green 

 celery is far from wholesome, and should be blanched by 

 earthing it up, as the deleterious principle is not then 

 developed. 



